Military seizes heavy arms from Caracas police-Officers left with pistols as Chávez tightens control

CARACAS - In the latest attempt to extend his control over the nation's institutions, President Hugo Chávez ordered the Venezuelan military to seize automatic weapons and riot gear from the rival Metropolitan Police on Tuesday, increasing the tension and potential for violence in the nation's 44-day political crisis.

As a result, said Greater Caracas Mayor Alfredo Peña, the outgunned police department will cease patrols in crime-ridden neighborhoods and at banks, embassies and subways in what is already one of the most dangerous cities in the hemisphere.

Chávez's dominance of government, which already extends from the Supreme Court to Congress, is one of the principal motives cited by supporters of a nationwide strike that enters its 45th day today.

By taking heavy arms away from the police loyal to his nemesis -- Peña -- Chávez weakens one of the only forces friendly to the opposition and strengthens his own grip on power.

In eight pre-dawn raids, the military seized 581 submachine guns, 1,712 shotguns, 14 riot-control rifles equipped to fire nonlethal bullets, as well as tear gas launchers and ammunition clips, the police said. The 10,000 officers were allowed to keep their .38-caliber revolvers.

''Instead of disarming the criminals, they disarm the police,'' Police Director Henry Vivas complained. ``It's unprecedented.''

Chávez's opponents said officers were being left defenseless in a nation that registered 9,244 homicides last year, about 2,000 of those in the capital.

''I cannot assume the responsibility of sending a police officer to his death so he can confront delinquents with just a .38 [pistol],'' Peña said. ``The delinquents carry laser[-sighted] guns, bazookas, rifles and machine guns.''

The government defended the move, saying the Metropolitan Police had become an arm of the opposition, which has staged a nationwide strike to force early elections.

''The Metropolitan Police can't be at the service of one political group,'' Vice President José Vicente Rangel said in a meeting with the foreign press Tuesday. ``The Metropolitan Police can't be above the law, above the executive and above the people. We're going to straighten this out and normalize the Metropolitan Police.''

Rangel blamed the law enforcement agency for the shooting deaths of three Chávez supporters at an opposition rally on Jan. 3.

''Every time they go to the street, it's to cause victims,'' he said. ``It can't work that way.''

The intense rivalry between Chávez and the Metropolitan Police began shortly after the president's 1998 election, when he began making changes to consolidate his power. Through a constituent assembly's new constitution, Chávez abolished Congress, creating a single-chamber legislature that he controlled. But before that new assembly got to work, an interim Congress appointed a new public prosecutor, comptroller, Supreme Court, and elections council, which until then had functioned as independent powers.

''When all you want is one political party, one newspaper, one radio station, and control over police and banks,'' Peña said, ``you are instituting a totalitarian regime.''

Still, some institutions remained beyond the president's reach, including the Metropolitan Police and the state oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela, known as PDVSA. Two months ago, in a move that triggered a backlash and the ensuing nationwide strike, Chávez ordered a military takeover of the police.

That was too much even for the pro-Chávez Supreme Court, which ordered the military to return the department to police control by Tuesday. Instead, early Tuesday morning, soldiers arrived at eight police installations with a military judge who sanctioned the seizure of police weapons.

It was unclear what legal basis was used to justify the move. The Defense Ministry declined to comment.

''His idea is a complete takeover of institutions,'' said political analyst Luis Vicente León. ``He needs the police out. They are the only defense the opposition has left. They are not just left without arms -- they are defenseless.''

León said Tuesday's move was particularly critical because the Metropolitan Police department is the only agency willing to confront the Bolivarian Circles, organized Chávez supporters whose presence at opposition rallies often leads to violent clashes.

The police department regularly comes under attack by Chávez when officers fire tear gas to keep the Bolivarian Circles and the opposition demonstrators apart.

Separately, The Associated Press reported that a Venezuelan airliner flying to the Dominican Republic had to return to Caracas on Tuesday when passengers began harassing the Venezuelan ambassador to Santo Domingo, who was on board.

Flight 824 of Aeropostal Alas de Venezuela returned to Simón Bolívar Airport 30 minutes after leaving shortly after noon.

While in flight, many of the 90 passengers subjected Gen. Francisco Belisario Landis to a constant barrage of verbal abuse.

After negotiations at the airport, the unruly passengers agreed to resume the flight without creating a further disturbance.

The ambassador also agreed. The plane took off again 90 minutes later and arrived at its destination without incident.

Officials in the government of President Hugo Chávez often run into similar, though usually milder situations when using commercial airlines.

***The intense rivalry between Chávez and the Metropolitan Police began shortly after the president's 1998 election, when he began making changes to consolidate his power. Through a constituent assembly's new constitution, Chávez abolished Congress, creating a single-chamber legislature that he controlled. But before that new assembly got to work, an interim Congress appointed a new public prosecutor, comptroller, Supreme Court, and elections council, which until then had functioned as independent powers. ''When all you want is one political party, one newspaper, one radio station, and control over police and banks,'' Peña said, ``you are instituting a totalitarian regime.''***

Chavez VP says government would accept court ruling upholding presidential referendum *** CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuela's vice president said the government would respect the high court if it rules to allow a Feb. 2 referendum on President Hugo Chavez's rule.

However, Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel warned that such a ruling would create chaos in this country of 24 million coping with a general strike called by opponents to overthrow Chavez.

"If the Supreme Tribunal confirms the referendum is constitutional we will accept this verdict," said Rangel. The government, he added, complied with a ruling exonerating the leaders of an April 11 coup against Chavez. ***

Hugo Chavez - Venezuela

I'm proud they have drawn a line and pray they will prevail.

Call an ambush by Venezuelan government thugs by its true name *** It is one thing to write about the authoritarian soul of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, as I have for years, and another to see its ugly face. Last Friday, while marching with my 13-year-old daughter in Caracas, through unbearable fumes of tear gases, I could clearly distinguish the face of fascism.

We were part of a peaceful demonstration of several hundred thousand Venezuelans who were marching to demand early elections as a democratic solution to the current political crisis. Near the end of the route, we were ambushed by armed civil groups who attacked us with tear gas, stones, sticks and guns. All of this took place before the indolent eyes of the military police, who at first were just strolling along as the armed gangs were shooting. But soon we saw with astonishment that the police were handing more tear-gas grenades to our attackers and coordinating their moves. When I later saw the events reported by CNN, Reuters, the Associated Press and The New York Times as a ''confrontation'' between government supporters and the opposition, I was appalled. What confrontation? I said to myself while remembering the terror in my daughter's eyes and in the thousands of unarmed demonstrators who were forced to flee.

Armed civilian groups responding to government orders are not new. Fascist and communist regimes have used them for the same purpose as the Chávez government: to intimidate opponents and to disguise government repression under a civilian facade. The armed Bolivarian Circles have already been denounced by Organization of American States Secretary General César Gaviria, who has found deaf ears not only in Chávez and his cabinet members but in the attorney general and the ombudsman as well.

The foreign press has failed to report the truth about events in Venezuela such as the march in which I participated. On Christmas Day, Boston Globe correspondent Marion Lloyd described the Circles as ''watchdog groups to support the Chávez government.'' No mention was made of their role as an illegal armed militia. The Circles terrorize those who dare to dissent with the government.***

Venezuelans savor solace in Miami - Others go home prepared *** Fearing the worst, Venezuelans in South Florida who plan to return home to join antigovernment street protests are stocking up on protective material at security stores. On the streets of Caracas, opposition demonstrators clash almost daily with riot troops equipped with tear gas. Several people have died in shootings. "People are afraid," said Josephina Capriles, the Venezuelan-born owner of Spytrix, a North Miami security store where sales of bullet-proof jackets and gas masks are booming. "I used to sell two bulletproof jackets a month but now I sell three a day," she said, adding that the extra sales were to Venezuelans.

Capriles offers discounts to Venezuelan clients. An Italian-made jacket costs $375, reduced from $498. Gas masks go for around $140. Other popular items include Mace, stun guns and more powerful electromuscular disruption devices, which can put down a human target at 20 feet. "We are going back, but we have to be prepared," said Leopoldo Baptista, the 60-year-old owner of a major Venezuelan construction company. Baptista spent several thousand dollars at Spytrix on protective gear for his wife and children.***

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